Slot Canyon Atlas

Atlas › Crete - Heraklion

Kaviousou

verified ACA 3B I Low flood risk Keratokampos, Viannos, Heraklion

The rappels start almost immediately and keep coming, through a short set of constrictions descente-canyon singles out as the most photogenic around.

From the parking walk back a few meters and take the piste heading west then north, with a clear view of the final narrows of Portella, before it curves back toward the canyon. Reach a flat on the ridge, continue along a secondary piste above the canyon, then drop through a fence to the streambed. Limestone.

Logistics

PermitNo permit required. Ropewiki records Requires permits: No.
Distance0.56
Elevation459
TimeAbout 2 hr descent with a 40 min approach and a 5 min exit. Ropewiki tops out at 3 hr overall.
TechnicalACA 3B I (v3a2 II). Minimum 20 m rope in single; biggest waterfall 27 m. A short walk in, then the rappels come one after another with almost no gap. The canyon deepens steadily and gives up a series of very fine constrictions. Finish by continuing down the bed to the ford.
SeasonFebruary to April after a wet winter. Ropewiki lists winter to spring.
Flood riskNo escapes, per descente-canyon. It only runs February through April after a wet winter, so the flow that makes it worth doing is the same flow that would make it serious. Cancel on rain over the Omalos plateau.
Vehicle accessNo shuttle needed. From Keratokampos continue 1.2 km east and, near the large chapel, take the piste climbing toward the canyon and park at its end. Descente-canyon notes a shuttle is possible with a 4x4.
Crowd3.7 of 5 across 20 ropewiki votes, the second most rated line in the regional unit after Arvi; 2.7 of 4 across 20 on descente-canyon.
Coordinates35.009, 25.3914

Sources